Air Belgium (CB, Brussels Charleroi) will return its two leased A330-200(P2F) converted freighters by September as the aircraft no longer meet its operational needs, CEO Niky Terzakis confirmed to ch-aviation, adding that in future the company will focus on larger freighters with a payload in excess of 100 tonnes (100,000 kilograms).
Terzakis was responding to an inquiry from ch-aviation following a report by the French-language aviation news site Mobilithib, citing two unnamed sources, that the company plans to phase out the Airbus freighters, leaving it with just two B747-8Fs, with plans to leverage the freight capacity of its new parent, French maritime logistics giant CMA CGM, which already operates several freighters under its own air cargo division.
According to ch-aviation data, the A330-200(P2F) has a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 233,000 kilograms (233 tonnes) and the B747-8F an MTOW of 447,695 kilograms (447 tonnes).
CMA CGM Air Cargo (2C, Paris CDG) operates two MTOW 347,814 kilogram (347 tonne) B777-200Fs with one more to be delivered, and one MTOW 233,000 kilogram (233 tonne) A330-200F. It also has on order two A330-200(P2F)s and eight MTOW 319,000 kilogram (319 tonne) A350Fs.
Mobilithib reported that Air Belgium would continue to operate its B747 freighters on routes between Brussels National, Dubai World Central, and Chengdu Shuangliu with one operating for China’s Hongyuan Group, Air Belgium's former 49% shareholder. According to ch-aviation data, the Airbus freighters are leased from Altavair, while the Boeing freighters are owned by Hongyuan Group.
CMA CGM acquired Air Belgium’s air freight division in April, keeping the brand, when the Belgian company was liquidated by the Business Court of Walloon Brabant. Air Belgium had already exited the passenger market in 2023 amid financial struggles. A previous attempted takeover by UK and Dutch investors failed earlier in 2025, clearing the path for CMA CGM’s successful bid.
